The Banks Ram-Air Differential Cover Kit is built to cool the differential without creating the problems people assume from the scoop shape. The Ram-Air scoops redirect airflow up through the cooling fins to help keep the cover and lubricant cooler, but they sit flush with the lowest part of the axle housing, so you can still jack the truck up by the axle. For off-road use, the scoops were engineered with breakaway protection in mind if they catch on an obstacle. And if mud packs into the scoops, you don’t need anything special to service it—just wash them out with a garden hose. The point is simple: forced-air cooling, usable jack access, and off-road practicality in the same cover.
The video addresses a common concern about the Banks Ram-Air differential cover: some owners believe it hangs too low to allow the truck to be lifted from the differential housing, or "pumpkin."
Much of that concern comes from the visible Ram-Air scoops, which make the cover appear deeper than a conventional differential cover.
The cover's shape is driven by its cooling design. Banks uses Ram-Air scoops to direct airflow upward through the openings and across the cooling fins.
This airflow helps remove heat from the differential cover and lubricant. Because the scoops extend below the visual profile of a typical flat cover, they can create the impression that ground or jack clearance has been significantly reduced.
The demonstration directly tests whether the truck can still be lifted from the differential area with the Banks cover installed.
The truck is successfully raised, demonstrating that the Ram-Air differential cover does not prevent lifting from the axle housing area for tasks such as changing a tire or performing service.
Another concern involves the Ram-Air scoops encountering rocks, stumps, or other obstacles during off-road use.
Banks says this type of exposure was considered during development. The scoop geometry and overall cover design were engineered with real-world under-vehicle conditions in mind rather than being added solely for appearance.
Banks also acknowledges that sufficiently harsh off-road use can damage components.
If a Ram-Air scoop is damaged or broken during trail use, the cover is still intended to remain functional. The design accounts for trucks being used in environments where axle components can encounter impacts, mud, and debris.
If mud or debris becomes packed into the Ram-Air scoops, Banks says the passages can simply be cleaned with a garden hose.
This makes restoring the airflow path after muddy off-road use a straightforward maintenance task rather than requiring disassembly or specialized cleaning.
The demonstration addresses three common concerns surrounding the Banks Ram-Air differential cover: clearance, off-road durability, and maintenance.
Despite the appearance of the cooling scoops, the truck can still be lifted from the differential area. The cover is designed with off-road exposure in mind, and mud or debris can be washed from the scoops with a garden hose while retaining the cover's differential-oil cooling function.
